Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Have you ever facerolled MMO content?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-facerolled-mmo-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-facerolled-mmo-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-facerolled-mmo-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

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I've recently returned to World of Warcraft and was surprised to find a much more complex game than when I left (contrary to popular lore in our comments). Several of the classes have been revamped mechanically to be far more interesting and layered, and new dungeon encounters are frequently among the best in the industry.

At endgame, anyway. I realize that outside of heroics and raids and PvP, WoW (like many MMOs) aims for accessible simplicity, which is nice when you're just happily grinding away or teaming up with weekend warriors not looking for a stressful challenge. One of my mates even bragged about facerolling his way through the dungeon finder, and I had to wonder, do people really do that? Even if content is easy, I still try to play it "right." I'll still make sure I know how to play my character, probably because I'm terrified of being that person in a PUG -- you know, the one who makes people hate PUGs. But I have to admit that the idea of honestly just punching whatever buttons just to see if we'll still win has its own amusing charm (and a strange level of challenge too).

Have you ever facerolled MMO content, literally or figuratively?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Have you ever facerolled MMO content? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrianna-royce-tdgcomplexitydaily-grinddumbing-downeasymodefacerollfacerollingfantasyheroicsopinionpugpugstdgthat-guythe-daily-grindwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 27 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: September 12-18, 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/18/global-chat-september-12-18-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/18/global-chat-september-12-18-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/18/global-chat-september-12-18-2011/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Star Trek Online image
Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

This week our readers had some things to say about both sides of the gaming fence: the development side and the player side. Follow along after the jump to see what we talked about and contribute your own thoughts!

Continue reading Global Chat: September 12-18, 2011

MassivelyGlobal Chat: September 12-18, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commenterscommentscrypticcryptic-studiosglobal-chatopinionperfect-world-entertainmentpick-up-grouppugpwerelationshipsstar-trekstar-trek-onlinestothe-guildSun, 18 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: The care and feeding of your PUG]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/flameseeker-chronicles-the-care-and-feeding-of-your-pug/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/flameseeker-chronicles-the-care-and-feeding-of-your-pug/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/flameseeker-chronicles-the-care-and-feeding-of-your-pug/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

As I joined the rest of you in anxiously awaiting the beginning of Asura Week, I thought over what to discuss in this week's Flameseeker Chronicles. Last week was the usual calm before the storm, so I was a little stuck for a topic.

As is often the way, some quality time with Guild Wars and my alliance solved that problem! While I was playing last week, I was keeping an eye on a discussion in alliance chat regarding PUG groups and the frustration that some of my allies were experiencing at their virtual hands.

It set me to thinking about the unusual situation PUGs find themselves in in Guild Wars, so follow along after the jump and let's talk about it!

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: The care and feeding of your PUG

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: The care and feeding of your PUG originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcommunityfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-101gwncsoftpick-up-grouppugMon, 12 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: One-point-four]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/enter-at-your-own-rift-one-point-four/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/enter-at-your-own-rift-one-point-four/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/enter-at-your-own-rift-one-point-four/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Last week, Karen provided an excellent analysis on Trion Worlds' broad, eight-page State of the Game address as the company outlined its plans for the game's long-term future. This week, we're still going to cast our eyes to the present. As we wrap up the final phase of RIFT's Waves of Madness (how much fun is water bladder throwing, huh?) and raid guilds bang their way through Hammerknell, it's the time to revel in a brand-new content update: patch 1.4.

Yes, another patch. I think people are still in disbelief that Trion is able to pump out updates as rapidly as it has, and the current naysayer theory is that the company is merely polishing up content it wanted to get for launch but had to hold back for whatever reason. There's probably a kernel of truth to that, but it doesn't hold up from what we know. We know that Trion has parallel teams -- up to six of them -- working on live development, which includes world events and content updates. We know that some of the features we've seen in previous patches were a direct result of post-launch player feedback, so it can't all be capping off unfinished projects.

Say what you will, but from where I'm standing, Trion's putting its actions where its mouth is by continuing a hot-and-heavy updating streak without showing any signs of slowing down. It's smart, too; by providing faster updates than most MMOs on the market and giving players incentive to stay, return, and try the game for the first time, Trion's firming up its position as an MMO that's here to stay -- not one that's going to fold up shop when future titles hit.

So let's take a peek through the highlights of patch 1.4 as I offer my award-winning commentary on each of the points!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: One-point-four

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: One-point-four originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.4chronicles-of-telaracommentarycrocnard-mountcross-server-lfgdrowned-hallsdungeon-runepic-quest-lineepic-storylinefeaturedintroductory-raidlegacy-of-the-fallenlfglooking-for-grouppatchpatch-1.4pugpvppvp-riftpvp-riftsraidriftstate-of-the-gamethe-drowned-hallsthe-water-sagatriontrion-worldsupdateupdate-schedulewarfrontwarfrontswater-sagawaves-of-madnessworld-pvpWed, 03 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Hailing frequencies were, are, and will be open]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/captains-log-hailing-frequencies-were-are-and-will-be-open/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/captains-log-hailing-frequencies-were-are-and-will-be-open/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/captains-log-hailing-frequencies-were-are-and-will-be-open/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Captain's Log, Stardate 65018.1...

Hello, computer (and players)! While we have all been out and about gallivanting across the galaxy, the development team for Star Trek Online has been busy working on getting Season Four: Crossfire from Tribble test server to the Holodeck live sever, and it looks like the mission was a success as it was finally patched into the game this morning. In between all the bug-squashing, feedback-gathering, and sleepless nights, Executive Producer Dan Stahl found time to sit down and answer some of his players' burning questions about the future of STO.

Toward the end of every month, a Cryptic Community Manager creates a new thread in the forums where players can submit questions. While it seems that the policy is "no question is too out there," only a select few are chosen and personally responded to. Whether you are interested in the future of Klingons, wondering when Starfleet Academy will make its debut, or curious to learn if the Romulans will become a playable faction, this month's Ask Cryptic is sure to leave you wanting more. While Dan seems to jump from topic to topic, I thought it would be handy if I put it all together for you in this week's Captain's Log entry.

Ensign, warp 11! Yeah, that's right! This is for all the readers who thought we couldn't even go warp 10...

Continue reading Captain's Log: Hailing frequencies were, are, and will be open

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Hailing frequencies were, are, and will be open originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2409academyask crypticAskCrypticbridge officerBridgeOfficercardassiancrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosend gameEndGamefactionfeaturedfightersklingonmvamperpetualprometheuspugseason fourSeasonFourshipsspecial task forceSpecialTaskForcest-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestfstotrek-onlineThu, 07 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: The poor, lonely looking-for-group tool]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/lost-pages-of-taborea-the-poor-lonely-looking-for-group-tool/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/lost-pages-of-taborea-the-poor-lonely-looking-for-group-tool/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/lost-pages-of-taborea-the-poor-lonely-looking-for-group-tool/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Karen's recent article about RIFT's new looking-for-group tool got me thinking about Runes of Magic's own LFG tool. It seems like such a nifty function, but it hardly ever gets used in RoM. It's such an interesting tool that I'm happy to see in the game, but it also seems to be better on paper than in practice. Part of the reason might be that it's slightly clumsy to use for the first time, which I'll get to a little later. LFG tools are one of those things that a lot of players ask for nowadays, but they only ever seem to be used minimally unless the devs attach incentives.

Let's turn caps-lock off, stop shouting in world chat, and take a closer look at RoM's LFG tool.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: The poor, lonely looking-for-group tool

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: The poor, lonely looking-for-group tool originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 May 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>application-boarddungeon-finderfeaturedfinding-groupsfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegroupinggrouping-mechanicsjeremy-strattonlfglfg-toollooking-for-grouplooking-for-group-toollost-pages-of-taboreapick-up-grouppick-up-groupspugpugsromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentMon, 23 May 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: 'Role' play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/enter-at-your-own-rift-role-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/enter-at-your-own-rift-role-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/enter-at-your-own-rift-role-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In retrospect, it was all my fault. I had gotten too used to just throwing RIFT dungeon groups together and assuming that with the flexible soul system we'd be able to provide everything necessary no matter what archetype mixup we had. I suppose it's a testament to Trion Worlds' design that an exact group composition wasn't a top concern -- the goal is just getting five willing players together for a fun run.

We were running Darkening Deeps, and I decided to start a group so that I could show off the dungeon to Rubi. We had two Rogues, two Mages and a Warrior, and I felt pretty confident going in that we would prevail. And while the Warrior stepped up and said he would tank -- taking the burden off of my Riftstalker build -- everyone else was curiously quiet when I asked if there was another healer who could back up my Bard heals for boss fights.

Nothing. Not a peep. The other Rogue didn't have a Bard spec, and the Mages were whistling innocently when I asked if they happened to have a Chloromancer role tucked in their back pocket. Oh crud. This was going to hurt. Six trash pulls into the dungeon later, I called it and said that we simply didn't have enough healing power to make it through the bosses. My bad, I said, thanks for playing!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: 'Role' play

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: 'Role' play originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypesbardchloromancerclassclassesdarkening-deepsdpsdungeon-runfeaturedfive-man-dungeonsgrouphealerholy-trinityoff-tankpugriftrift-planes-of-telarariftstalkerrolerole-systemrolesrubisaboteursoul-systemsoul-treesoulsswiss-army-knifetankteamtrainertriontrion-worldsWed, 30 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Solo vs. group]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/wings-over-atreia-solo-vs-group/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/wings-over-atreia-solo-vs-group/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/wings-over-atreia-solo-vs-group/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

OK, now get your collective minds all out of the gutter! There we go. Of course, the title speaks to gaming styles and preferences in Aion. Lately, I've had the topic of grouping crop up in different discussions, from the trend of decreasing group sizes (Star Wars Galaxies had groups of 20, then Lineage II had groups of nine, followed by other games with a maximum group size of six) to questioning the need to group at all. To group, or not to group: Is that really the question?

I touched on this topic a bit a few weeks ago, but an adventure this past week brought my attention back to it; I discovered that you no longer need a full group for one of the more frustrating quests in the game (once you factor in trying to get a group when the rift is up and not have it camped on the other side by the enemy!). Instead, you can complete the quest with just two or three Daevas, a feat unheard of previously due to the difficult dungeon in enemy territory.

Granted, we completed our quest, which would have been impossible otherwise given the circumstances. But on a broader scale, what's with the trend of phasing out group content in MMOs and catering to the solo crowd? This phenomenon puzzles me. When a game is an MMO (read "massively multiplayer"), why discourage grouping by making almost all content accessible to the solo crowd -- especially in Aion (where learning good group dynamics can be crucial in large scale warfare)? In a time when social skills seem to be struggling to survive, why open yet another opportunity for people to avoid interaction?

Type /Invite and join me past the cut to examine this phenomenon and weigh in with your preferred gaming style in our comments.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Solo vs. group

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Solo vs. group originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gameBeluslanbeshmundir-templefeaturedgroupinggrouping-incentivesgroupslootnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionpugpugsrngsolosoloingudas-templeWings-Over-AtreiaxenoMon, 07 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Incursion in progress]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/30/eve-evolved-incursion-in-progress/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/30/eve-evolved-incursion-in-progress/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/30/eve-evolved-incursion-in-progress/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

In a blaze of fire and glory, Sansha Kuvakei's fleet clashed with players in a major offensive in Yulai. Although his AI-controlled Sansha battleships numbered in the hundreds, the sheer force of capsuleer defense initiatives was brought down on Kuvakei's fleet like a hammer. With the Sansha ships under heavy fire, the fleet opened additional wormholes to call in reinforcements. Amidst the busy buzz of lasers scorching hulls, capsuleers hurling missiles, and CONCORD rescue operations, space itself warped as several massive Sansha supercarriers emerged from the incoming wormholes. Sansha Kuvakei played his biggest and most fearsome card as a show of the incredible forces he now commands. And capsuleers burned them to ashes in defiance.

Since the battle in Yulai, Sansha's Nation has begun launching full-scale occupations of constellations across New Eden. Many players dove straight into the fray without adequate preparation, and Sansha's forces were not forgiving. While most NPC pirate ships found in EVE Online are weak with a very basic AI, the new Sansha ships are both smart and deadly. They use everything from ECM and energy neutralisers to stealth bomber technology and logistic support. Thousands of player ships were destroyed in the first day of fighting as people worked out, through a system of trial and error, how best to tackle EVE's latest supervillain. As the dust settled, I began to get a solid impression of how well the feature is working and whether it really is the breath of fresh air EVE's PvE has been sorely lacking all these years.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I give my first impressions of the Sansha incursions in an attempt to demystify some of the discussion surrounding them and share some basic tips for getting involved.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Incursion in progress

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Incursion in progress originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamesdungeondungeonseveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedgroup-pvegroupingincursionincursionslogisticspick-up-grouppugpuggingpugspvepvpraidingsanshasanshas-nationsupercarriersSun, 30 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Playing alone together]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/26/the-soapbox-playing-alone-together/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/26/the-soapbox-playing-alone-together/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/26/the-soapbox-playing-alone-together/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect that of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

It's sitting there in my quest log, frustrating me with its presence and quite possibly calling me names when I'm not around. "It" is a fellowship (group) quest for Lord of the Rings Online that I need to complete to continue Volume 2 of the epic storyline. This particular quest has been moldering in my log for over two weeks now, and I'm starting to think I'll never get it done.

I hate it. Oh, sure, I know that there's plenty of other things to do, I know that if I'm diligent I'll find a group sooner or later, and I know that eventually enough of my kinship will need to do it and we'll throw together a "help each other out" posse. But I absolutely, completely hate being dependent on others for my gaming, and it always grates when I hit a wall that cannot be passed unless I gather a few friends -- or, more likely, a motley crew of puggers -- to get around it all.

Yup, that's right, I'm a solo MMO player. I'm the very oxymoron of what some consider to be the quintessential MMO experience, which is to play an online game together with thousands of others. I like to do my own thing, go my own way, and 95% of the time, chew through content as a one-man act. I don't mind being with other people for fun and adventures, but I don't want to need them to progress.

And I'm part of a growing majority of MMO gamers.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Playing alone together

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Playing alone together originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eqeverquestfeaturedgroupgroupingguildkinshiplord-of-the-rings-onlinelotropugpuggersoapboxsolosoloingthe-soapboxwarWarhammer-Onlinewelfare-epicsTue, 26 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Making the cut]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/wings-over-atreia-making-the-cut/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/wings-over-atreia-making-the-cut/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/wings-over-atreia-making-the-cut/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


"What position are you applying for?" The interviewer listens and nods.

"Mmhmm. Thank you. Now, what special skills can you bring to the team?"

"Please list all previous experience and describe your major accomplishments." A pause.

"Have you the required equipment to adequately perform your duties?"

The interviewer is quiet while sizing up the applicant.

"I'm sorry, but you just don't quite have what we are looking for. Next!"

Sound familiar? No, this isn't a job interview -- this is the rigmarole many players experience simply to get into a group in NCsoft's Aion. You might think that time of day or availability of people in the right level range would have the most affect on forming up a group, whether in a legion or a PUG. Instead, players often must contend with an entirely different beast before even stepping foot into an instance: group elitism.

Unless you have a regular group of friends with identical play times or a very supportive legion, you are apt to occasionally find yourself in the situation of seeking a group while traipsing about Atreia. Even with a regular group, there are going to be times you are left more-or-less on your own and just want to get something done. Thus begins the (oft times unpleasant) task of creating or finding a group. Like a microcosm of drama played out in short spurts, group formation showcases a variety of less-than-desirable attributes: greed; envy; lust; selfishness; and inflated egos. Just how exclusive can this process become? Your inclusion could ride solely on your class, equipment, or skill set, and have nothing to do with your ability and skill as a player. Heck, even your name may keep you out of groups.

Join me past the cut to explore elitism in group dynamics in Aion.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Making the cut

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Making the cut originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gamearchetypeArchetypesatreiaclassesclericdramaelitismfeaturedgearedgroupinggroupshealersinstanceslegionnamesnamingnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionpugpugsreputationskillskill-setskillst-labstanktankingtemplartheobomosWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 25 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the Girdle of Anarchy: Your stories]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/14/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-girdle-of-anarchy-your-stories/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/14/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-girdle-of-anarchy-your-stories/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/14/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-girdle-of-anarchy-your-stories/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I have to admit that I have a particular soft spot for Anarchy Online. It was, for better and worse, my first MMO -- on launch day, no less. That experience terrified me so much that I became convinced my machine could never run an online game, and so it wasn't until Shadowlands released that I returned to Rubi-Ka for another go. Fortunately, that time things went more smoothly, and I cut my teeth on that content. Sure, it was mostly over my head, and I'm pretty sure I gimped my character by level 3, but the otherworldly atmosphere and giddy newness of MMOs in general more than made up for it.

After last week's brief overview of the many years of Anarchy Online's operation, vets poured out of the grid to share their own screenshots and stories. It may not be the hip new thing these days -- more like, it needs a hip replacement -- but to hear these players tell it, AO isn't as washed up as you may think.

Read on for sordid tales that would make any of the Game Archaeologist's own adventures look like a dip in the kiddie pool!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Girdle of Anarchy: Your stories

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Girdle of Anarchy: Your stories originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananarchy-onlineanarchy-online-launchaoaoce-peeneddieeq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iifeaturedfixerfuncomgaute-godagergmgridimni-teklaunch-dayold-athenomniprison-missionspugpvproleplayRolePlayingrprunescapeshadowlandsthe-game-archaeologistwhoompahwhoompah-oompaworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 14 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Bow to the RNG]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/20/the-daily-grind-bow-to-the-rng/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/20/the-daily-grind-bow-to-the-rng/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/20/the-daily-grind-bow-to-the-rng/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you were ever pressed to come up with three letters that defined MMORPGs more than anything else (other than, y'know, "MMO"... or "RPG"), chances are you'd be dithering between "PUG" and "RNG." Man, we gamers like our acronyms, don't we? Just one more step toward that militaristic online state!

The RNG -- random number generator -- is that tiny unseen subroutine that basically decides whether you're going to get phat lewts or not, whether you're going to hit a mob or miss, and whether the game will have downtime on the one day that week during which you have free to play. Some people swear fealty to the RNG, bowing to it above all. Some curse its very existence, for it has driven lesser people mad from its fickle nature.

So when have you been royally worked over by the random number generator, even though statistically you should have succeeded long before? When did the RNG gods favor you by dropping a major blessing in your lap on the very first try? And what games are you certain have a mean-spirited RNG that try to do everything in its power to drive players insane?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Bow to the RNG originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Drop-ratedrop-rate-calculatordrop-ratesopinionpugrandom-number-generatorrngtdgthe-daily-grindFri, 20 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Singing the PUG blues]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/the-daily-grind-singing-the-pug-blues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/the-daily-grind-singing-the-pug-blues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/the-daily-grind-singing-the-pug-blues/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Recently I've been having a hard time finding a decent pickup group in Age of Conan. I'm excited to run some of the Khitai 6-man instances as well as the old-world dungeons that I've yet to experience like The Iron Tower, Onyx Chambers, and Atzel's Fortress. That said, whether it's due to being under-geared and one of the thousands of DPS-types crowding the server, or the fact that the high-level game is very cliquish and/or guild-focused, I can't seem to make it work. If it's gear that's holding me back, then it's the classic chicken-or-egg dilemma (how can I get geared if I can't get a dungeon group?). If the answer is a guild, well I've got one, but I'm one of the very few high-level players; the rest are still slogging their way through the middle levels.

Whatever the reason, PUGs (or actually the lack of them) are becoming something of an annoyance. What about you, Massively readers? Are you constantly on the outside looking in or can you get a group whenever you want? Does your game of choice feature a plethora of endgame PUGs or is it mostly premade guild groups?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Singing the PUG blues originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6-man-dungeonsage-of-conanaocatzels-fortressdungeonsfuncomim-so-ronerykhitaionyx-chambersopinionspickup-groupPUGpugsthe-daily-grindthe-iron-towerThu, 19 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's Community Detective, Issue #5: Vanguard - Saga of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/massivelys-community-detective-issue-5-vanguard-saga-of-he/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/massivelys-community-detective-issue-5-vanguard-saga-of-he/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/massivelys-community-detective-issue-5-vanguard-saga-of-he/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Much has been written around the MMO blogosphere regarding SOE's Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. From its troubled beginnings as a not-quite-ready-for-launch title, to fledgling Sigil Games Online's financial difficulties, to lead designer Brad McQuaid's well-publicized struggles with management and personal issues, the spiritual successor to EverQuest has always had a bit of a dark cloud hovering over its head.

Happily, a fun game remains despite all the problems, and the title's snake-bit tendencies don't seem to have affected either its community or its customer service.

Fly past the cut (on your rented pegasus) for more.

Continue reading Massively's Community Detective, Issue #5: Vanguard - Saga of Heroes

MassivelyMassively's Community Detective, Issue #5: Vanguard - Saga of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communitycommunity-detectivecustomer-servicecustomer-service-case-filesdeleted-characterdeleted-itemfeaturedpetitionpickup-grouppugserver-mergesoeSony-Online-EntertainmenttelonvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-HeroesTue, 17 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's Community Detective, Issue #3: Aion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/03/massivelys-community-detective-issue-3-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/03/massivelys-community-detective-issue-3-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/03/massivelys-community-detective-issue-3-aion/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


"There is currently a wait of about five days from the time you sent your request. We will continue to do all we can to reduce the wait time." So says a portion of the support email we received from NCsoft over the weekend while preparing the notes for this week's issue of Community Detective. Five days? Five days! Well, the good news is that the debacle had a happy ending. The bad news is that the wait, and a few vocal community members, colored our current perceptions of Aion.

Welcome to another issue of Massively's Community Detective. This week we're changing up our format just a bit to focus on a single MMORPG. Aion goes under the microscope today, and the PvPvE title skews a bit more towards conventional MMOs than last week's EVE/Darkfall duo.

Before we dive into the world of Atreia, let's reiterate the column's purpose, as well as outline our current methods. Fly past the cut for more.

Continue reading Massively's Community Detective, Issue #3: Aion

MassivelyMassively's Community Detective, Issue #3: Aion originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-the-tower-of-eternitycommunity-detectivecommunity-reportscustomer-servicefeaturedgmin-game-helpisraphelncsoftopinionpetitionpugpugspvepvppvpvezikelTue, 03 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Grouping basics]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/02/lost-pages-of-taborea-grouping-basics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/02/lost-pages-of-taborea-grouping-basics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/02/lost-pages-of-taborea-grouping-basics/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This week, I've been thinking a lot about Runes of Magic's ability to cater to players with different MMO backgrounds. Many players may never have played a subscription game from the West, while others may never have experienced the different mechanics found in Eastern F2P MMOs. What you get is a banquet of food and all the guests aren't sure of the proper etiquette or rules or when it's time to eat. If we stick with a food analogy, the group feature would be a main dish.

Lots of F2P MMOs have been imported from the East, and they don't handle grouping in quite the same way as Western subscription-based games. In fact, the ideas of raiding, pick-up-groups, and instances that can be found in almost any Western MMO, don't exist in most F2P games. This article takes a look at some specifics of grouping in RoM, including the recruitment board, experience debt, looking for a group, and etiquette.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Grouping basics

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Grouping basics originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>etiquettefeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegroupinggroupslfglooking-for-grouplootloot-rollingloot-rollspartypick-up-grouppugpuggingraidraidingrecruitment-boardromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentteleportteleport-runeworld-chatzone-chatMon, 02 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's Community Detective, Issue #2: Darkfall and EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/27/massivelys-community-detective-issue-2-darkfall-and-eve-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/27/massivelys-community-detective-issue-2-darkfall-and-eve-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/27/massivelys-community-detective-issue-2-darkfall-and-eve-onli/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


"We hope you understand that there's nothing we can do at the moment," says the support email we just received from Aventurine, developers of Darkfall. Not exactly what you want to hear from customer service, is it?

Welcome to another issue of Massively's Community Detective, where we're primed and ready to take you into the trenches of MMORPG community and customer service. This week we've got full-blown battlefields complete with land mines, dismemberment, e-peen waving, and all the other things you've come to know and love about PvP. Yes, we're delving into the world of Darkfall, and if that's not enough for you, we'll also be heading for the heavens in a very different (but equally cutthroat) PvP sandbox called EVE Online.

Join us after the cut to see how these two titles fared in terms of community and customer service support.

Continue reading Massively's Community Detective, Issue #2: Darkfall and EVE Online

MassivelyMassively's Community Detective, Issue #2: Darkfall and EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aventurineccpCCP-Gameschatcommunity-detectivecommunity-investigationscommunity-managercsrcustomer-servicedarkfalldarkfall-onlineeveeve-onlineeve-universityfeaturedincarnaopinionpugpugspvpsandboxTue, 27 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Heroes ruined Guild Wars]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/flameseeker-chronicles-heroes-ruined-guild-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/flameseeker-chronicles-heroes-ruined-guild-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/flameseeker-chronicles-heroes-ruined-guild-wars/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Oh, settle down. I'm not stating that as a fact, I'm just repeating what others have said. It's an old argument, but one that's recently come to my attention several times over the past week, so I want to take a look at the argument today.

Heroes came to Guild Wars near the end of 2006 with the introduction of Nightfall. They were a huge upgrade from the much-maligned Alesia and her companions. Sure, you had to level them up, but you had as much control over their runes and insignias, skill bars, and weapons as you did your own.

The addition gave players the option to add three of these customized companions, making it much easier to continue adventuring even if you couldn't get a group at the moment. It sounds perfect, right? Not everyone agrees, and it's a debate that flared back up in the past months when the possibility was raised of companions in Guild Wars 2.

Hit the handy "read more" button to check out both sides of the argument.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Heroes ruined Guild Wars

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Heroes ruined Guild Wars originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alesia-you-are-not-a-tankanetarenanetbonusfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesgroupingguild-warsguild-wars-heroesguild-wars-nightfallgwhero-henchheroeskoss-is-like-a-wild-beast-unchainedmissionncsoftnightfallopinionpugpugssoloingstop-that-orion-everything-is-dead-alreadyMon, 26 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Which class is your arch-nemesis?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/the-daily-grind-which-class-is-your-arch-nemesis/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/the-daily-grind-which-class-is-your-arch-nemesis/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/the-daily-grind-which-class-is-your-arch-nemesis/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Admit it: even the nicest amongst us have a deep-rooted grudge against a particular class. Our foe. Our bane. Our arch-nemesis. It's the class we squint at in anger whenever we see them pop up on the battlefield or in our PUGs. It's the class that gives us physical hives whenever we come into close contact with one of their members. It's the class that we gladly devote a nine-page rant against on the official game forums, calling for their extermination, or at the very least, to be neutered.

So what's your arch-nemesis class? Is it a class that repeatedly stamps all over your face in PvP? A class that is -- obviously -- so OP that you can't stand it? Perhaps it's a class that does whatever your class does, but better and with more flair. Maybe your arch-nemesis class seems to attract more mentally unstable and emotionally immature players than usual. So get it off your chest today -- which class is your arch-nemesis?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Which class is your arch-nemesis? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arch-nemesisclassesjoker-penguin-riddlernemesisopopinionoverpoweredpugpvptdgthe-daily-grindFri, 23 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Which MMO has the best PUGs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/11/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-has-the-best-pugs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/11/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-has-the-best-pugs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/11/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-has-the-best-pugs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Whether you are lucky enough to play with a steady group of good friends or you're more of a soloist, you've still probably encountered the stray pick-up group or random team member here and there. Many gamers even spend all of their time with strangers. But if you've played several MMOs, you may have also noticed that there seems to be a difference in the playerbases. Some games are notorious for having more immature players while others can safely say their players are the best. But which ones? Which MMO do you feel has the best PUGs?

I decided to take this question an extra step by adding a poll in which readers could vote. The top games are included in this poll, but certainly feel free to add your own to the comments below, along with examples.

View Poll

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Which MMO has the best PUGs? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>groupingpickup-groupspugpugsrandomthe-daily-grindTue, 11 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Yu rack disriprine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/18/anti-aliased-yu-rack-disriprine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/18/anti-aliased-yu-rack-disriprine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/18/anti-aliased-yu-rack-disriprine/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


A few nights ago, I was in one of the worst pick-up groups I have ever seen. It was World of Warcraft, we were in Halls of Lightning, and we had opened up with a dramatic wipe on the first boss. (He wasn't even in his powered mode, which surprised me.)

Valiantly, we tried the battle again, but found the same effect. Everyone looked like they had enough gear -- I had done that boss with "worse" people backing me up. Of course, while I was pondering that, the squabbling had already begun in the party. Priest blames hunter, hunter blames mage, mage blames paladin, then the paladin stops pondering why we were failing, realizes people were blaming her, and becomes flustered that someone would actually blame her for the wipe. Meanwhile, the rogue sat in stealth and went afk. Perfect party dynamics.

Before long I found myself outside of Halls of Lightning again, sitting on the steps in my pristine holy plate armor. I held up a sign that said, "Will tank 4 food," while I kept up hopes that another party would take me in. (Note: Apparently Game Informer used "Will tank 4 food" in their latest magazine, which just read 5 minutes ago, well after this article was completed. Scary.)

Party dynamics seem to be on the decline, but why? Pick-up groups were always a scary prospect, but lately they seem to have become something entirely more nightmarish. What the heck has changed?

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Yu rack disriprine

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Yu rack disriprine originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedcommunitydeath-penaltydungeonsendgameexp-lossfeaturedgroupinginstancesjoystiqfeaturespartiespartyingpenaltiespick-up-grouppugpugsquestsraidingsoloingworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 18 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Curtain: Hell is other people]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/behind-the-curtain-hell-is-other-people/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/behind-the-curtain-hell-is-other-people/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/behind-the-curtain-hell-is-other-people/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

How often do you your social experiences in MMOs actually satisfy you? How many times have you been part of a PUG that lasted longer than the bare minimum of time it took to finish the instance and left you with the feeling that you'd met some decent people, instead of with a headache from grinding your teeth in frustration for the past hour and a half?

Despite the fact that I'm in a guild full of great people whose sole concern is not being top of the damage meters or who has the most DKP stored up, I still spend a fair amount of time playing solo. Sometime I feel like I'm cheating myself a little bit by intentionally missing out on the social side of World of Warcraft a lot of the time. I guess time is a factor more often than not; being a slave to the evil, capitalist ways of the decadent West, I work a full-time job which involves a fair amount of commuting each day, so on most weeknights I have to juggle what time I have at home, and sometimes I simply can't squeeze in a run through any instance, and I refuse to be the player who skips out of the instance half way through.

Continue reading Behind the Curtain: Hell is other people

MassivelyBehind the Curtain: Hell is other people originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-curtainfeaturedhell-is-other-peoplepugpugssolosoloingThu, 05 Jun 2008 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Player vs. Everything: Playing with your friends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/player-vs-everything-playing-with-your-friends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/player-vs-everything-playing-with-your-friends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/player-vs-everything-playing-with-your-friends/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Players often venture into the wilderness of online games alone and friendless, seeking out allies in the worlds they inhabit and making friends as they go along. Some games are better at encouraging players to work together than others, too. You're not going to last very long playing by yourself in games like EverQuest or EVE Online, so you have to go looking for people to play with. On the other hand, in games like World of Warcraft you can start at the first level and get to level 70 without ever talking to another human being (it's even easier if you're a Hunter). Regardless of whether your particular game of choice forces you to find friends, many people like to have friends to play with anyway. Even if you don't need them, it's kind of the point of online games to play with other people. Right?

That's why some people roll into these games with a ready-made posse. Maybe it's a group of real-life friends that want to play together online, or maybe it's a guild composed of players that you met in a previous game and you'd all like to try something different together. Either way, it's pretty nice to be able to work with a group of people you already know, trust, and like. You don't have to hope that the fickle hand of fate will deliver good PuGs to you (we all know how rare those are), and you don't have to worry about trying to find a new group of people who you can relate to in a sea of anonymous faces (many of whom will have value systems, expectations, and maturity levels that will be different than yours). Is it possible you're missing out on something by bringing your own people in, though? If so, do you care?

Continue reading Player vs. Everything: Playing with your friends

MassivelyPlayer vs. Everything: Playing with your friends originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bigotsculturefeaturedfriendsgirl-gamersgroupgroupsjerklearningmeetingplayer-vs-everythingpugsocialstalkerWed, 23 Apr 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Which MMO has the best PUGs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-has-the-best-pugs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-has-the-best-pugs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-has-the-best-pugs/#commentsFiled under: , ,

PUGs (that's Pick-Up-Groups, for those of you keeping score at home) are those groups that get thrown together around getting a mission or a quest completed, tackling a boss or snagging a rare drop, where you just can't handle things on your own, and your regular posse (if you have one) isn't around.

Around the Massively office (composed largely of tubes, gnarley space-time, tofu and Cheetos), we've been swapping some of our own PUG stories, and it seems clear that some MMOs seem to have much better PUG experiences than others. Some seem to always be golden, others about half and half, and others are full of ninja-looting, healers tanking, and team members suspiciously going connection-dead at the first sign of a stiff fight. Over to you, dear readers. Which MMOs have consistently given you the best PUG experiences?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Which MMO has the best PUGs? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturefeaturedopinionpugtdgthe-daily-grindThu, 06 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New content for Pirates of the Caribbean]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/02/new-content-for-pirates-of-the-caribbean/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/02/new-content-for-pirates-of-the-caribbean/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/02/new-content-for-pirates-of-the-caribbean/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

As previously mentioned, Pirates of the Caribbean Online is the surprisingly fun corporate-giant-backed MMO that could. Refreshingly, the dev team on PotCO isn't resting on their brand name to keep them afloat (no pun intended -- well, okay, you got me), but instead continue to bring new content to their constituents. Currently, this takes the form of new emotes, hairstyles, tattoos, jewelry, and clothing, as well as the new 'Looking For Crew' feature, which lets other players know when you want a PUG.

Additionally, Unlimited Access Members can get their hands on a new skull bandana, available until midnight tonight from any tailor. Disney Online has additional content planned for 2008 including a new Black Pearl Boss Battle as well as the expansion of ship customization, extension of quest story lines, and the addition of more enemies and challenges.

More than ever, this is a great time for new users to jump in and ply the seas in search of tentacular adventure! If you want more information, our hands-on tour is available for your perusal.


MassivelyNew content for Pirates of the Caribbean originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-pearlclothingdisneydisney-onlineemoteshairstyleshands-on-tourjewelrylooking-for-crewnew-contentpirates-of-the-caribbeanpugskull-bandanatattoostentacularunlimited-access-membersSun, 02 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Games that shouldn't be MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/28/games-that-shouldnt-be-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/28/games-that-shouldnt-be-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/28/games-that-shouldnt-be-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Here's a corollary post to an earlier story. Our cousin site, Cinematical, has brought teh funneh with a post about which board games would make awful movies. In that spirit, we now present to you a list of games that would make terrible MMOs, in no particular order.

Please note that these are merely our particular opinions, and we're not saying that a cleverer-than-thou developer couldn't make a great MMO out of these games ... but for reasons we'll state here, it's highly unlikely. Then again, sometimes the best-sounding ideas turn out some awful games themselves (*cough* Fury *cough*), so it all evens out. Excelsior!

Continue reading Games that shouldn't be MMOs

MassivelyGames that shouldn't be MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ace-attorneyasynchronousbrain-damagecinematicalcodpiececonnecteddirectx-10dung-beetlesfeaturedfuryGUIhumori-alonejamiroquaikatamari-damacyking-of-all-cosmoslagleisure-suit-larrylittle-princelivepachinkopegglephoenix-wrightpink-floydpugrock-bandsexual-revolutionsisyphusstereo-mcsvirtual-insanitywidespread-panicThu, 28 Feb 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How to find a fellow AFS soldier]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/how-to-find-a-fellow-afs-soldier/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/how-to-find-a-fellow-afs-soldier/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/how-to-find-a-fellow-afs-soldier/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


In keeping with today's P.U.G. theme, we stumbled across another article today about how to find and enjoy the community in Tabula Rasa. Given the brouhaha over TR yesterday, we thought shinning a spotlight on this fun MMO would be beneficial.

This helpful article (found on Tabula Blogger) provides an entire footlocker full of chat commands (i.e., "/whisper" sends a message to specific a player, "/group" or "/party" sends a message to your party, "/shout" or "/yell" sends a message to the map you're on) and suggestions on how to go about finding fellow AFS soldiers in the fight against the vile Bane. I've been playing this game since beta (and apparently have a far better outlook on TR than other people), yet I have never used the LFG (Looking For Group) Tab. Heck, I forgot it's there to be quite honest. But then, I'm not usually looking for groups (which is a whole other post I'm working on). However, if you are then it's where you need to be to find a group quick and easy like.

MassivelyHow to find a fellow AFS soldier originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destination-gamesgroupinghow-toncsoftPick-up-GroupsPUGrichard-garriottTabula-Bloggertabula-rasaTRTue, 19 Feb 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Who's afraid of the big, bad P.U.G.?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/whose-afraid-of-the-big-bad-p-u-g/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/whose-afraid-of-the-big-bad-p-u-g/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/whose-afraid-of-the-big-bad-p-u-g/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


We've all experienced it. There you are sitting in your favorite MMOG when suddenly you're "blessed" with a quest or mission that you simply can't handle alone. Your mind races, beads of sweat form on your brow, and a zing of panic rifles up your spine. You realize you have no choice but to enter... The P.U.G. Zone.

For those of you unfamiliar with the term, P.U.G. is the acronym for Pick Up Group. It might as well stand for "Insta-death." More often then not when you're forced to form a group consisting of unknown players it usually ends in multiple deaths, and failure of said mission. If that weren't bad enough there's also a part of you that truly wants to make a good impression on your new found teammates. Thankfully there are many sites (like Massively, Ten Ton Hammer, etc.) dedicated to helping players deal with issues just like this.

Continue reading Who's afraid of the big, bad P.U.G.?

MassivelyWho's afraid of the big, bad P.U.G.? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Pick-Up-GroupPUGSuccessful-GroupingTen-Ton-HammertipsTue, 19 Feb 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOGology: Group dynamics]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/28/mmogology-group-dynamics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/28/mmogology-group-dynamics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/28/mmogology-group-dynamics/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Leading a group in a dungeon instance can often feel like herding cats, especially if you're playing with a pick-up-group (PUG). Unlike a guild group you don't have the luxury of knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the other players. PUGs also tend to have more members with less experience running the instance. Many instances I've run in World of Warcraft have involved at least one of the following situations: The huntard claims he must be the official puller and then won't shed the aggro to let the main tank do his job. The healer blows all his mana on the soft targets that shouldn't have aggro. The priest or warlock freaks out and fears off the mobs who flee to their comrades in waiting, join forces, and eat the reckless noobs stumbling through their dungeon.

No matter how good a player you are personally, you can't save a group from the four other morons that make up your party. Maybe once or twice you'll get off a group saving heal, or manage to get the aggro back onto yourself if you're a tank. Nine times out of ten, though, when the same craziness happens on the next pull, it's a wipe. So imagine my surprise when I joined up a with a group of total noobs to run the Blackrock Depths instance in WoW, and managed to finish most of my quests and take down nearly all the bosses with only one wipe. This was a group of extremely inexperienced players. Besides myself, only one other person there had even run the instance before. Because we were both on alts that hadn't seen this content in a long time, neither of us really remembered the details. So how can a group succeed when it doesn't have experience? How could this be possible when I'd run the same instance with veterans and higher level characters with less success?

Continue reading MMOGology: Group dynamics

MassivelyMMOGology: Group dynamics originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blizzardfeaturedgroupgroupingpick-up-groupPUGWorld-of-WarcraftWoWMon, 28 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soloist: I've Got a Hench]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/02/the-soloist-ive-got-a-hench/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/02/the-soloist-ive-got-a-hench/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/02/the-soloist-ive-got-a-hench/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Here's something I never missed before in WoW, but now I wish it could be implemented. I was leafing through the manual for my newly-purchased Guild Wars box (at $5 it was a steal! Thank you, random sidewalk sale!) and it mentioned the ability to purchase henchmen, or mercenaries, to travel with you on your adventures.

Now, WoW has its similarities -- Hunters get pets, as do Warlocks -- and of course you have your guilds or PUGs. But here's the thing: leveling up a pet and outfitting it with new abilities is a pain. It's not how I want to spend my in-world time. And even though it's an MMO, I'm a lone wolf -- I don't want to group with people to play. In fact, this is the inaugural post of a recurring feature I'm calling The Soloist -- posts about playing MMOs alone.

So, why can't I buy or rent mercs in WoW? Just think of all the times you weren't able to enjoy a quick raid because none of your friends or guildies were available. Or perhaps you have a random playing schedule and just can't coordinate even so much as a PUG. Maybe you just don't like the social aspect of MMOs in general. Whatever the reason, developers ignore the solo player at their peril! The funny thing is, Blizzard made mercenaries available in Diablo II, and that's kinda MMO, innit? C'mon, guys, help a lone agent out. Give us henchmen!

MassivelyThe Soloist: I've Got a Hench originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Nov 2007 06:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diablo-2guild-warsguildieshenchmenhuntersmassivelymercenariespick-up-gamePUGsoloistwarlocksworld-of-warcraftFri, 02 Nov 2007 06:26:00 EST